In a brief moment of relief amid the ongoing devastation, 183 Palestinian prisoners were released on Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement. Many of them returned to their families in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank, and Gaza—some after spending years in Israeli prisons. The joy of reunion, however, was overshadowed by the scars of detention, as many emerged weak and in need of medical care.

Meanwhile, three Israeli prisoners were handed over to the Red Cross. The stark contrast in the narratives of these releases remains evident—while Israeli prisoners receive extensive international attention and medical care, the Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were held without charge or trial, return to a homeland still besieged and under attack.

The exchange is part of fragile negotiations mediated by regional and international actors, aiming to prolong the temporary ceasefire. Yet, for Palestinians, true peace remains distant as long as their land is occupied, their homes are destroyed, and their rights continue to be trampled upon.